Evaluation

Overall I have really enjoyed this unit as I have felt happy and excited throughout it, I feel this has helped me feel inspired a great deal more than in the last unit. 
In my brief I said that I wanted to create two separate outcomes in a way that could allow me to have a set of samples intended for educational objects and the other to be based on children's drawings and intended for an interior purpose.

After I had started to create my samples (following my short story idea) I was advised not to take such a literal approach to my samples and to rethink my yarn choices as my samples were starting to look 'cheap' with this in mind I started to focus on the drawing aspect of research, I also changed my idea of having to separate outcomes as these changes happened too far into the project for me to have a sufficient amount of decent samples.

As a whole I feel like this project has been quite jumpy in a sense that my sketchbook work jumps from one idea to another as each part of my research sparked another idea, and another idea and so on. I do however feel as though my final outcomes are still relevant enough to fit in with my brief.
For my live brief (BTSC K2) I will choose a select few of my final samples to submit for my entry, these are yet to be decided and will be finalised at a later date as further development is being considered as the deadline for entry is mid March.

These images show the development from my drawings, initial samples from the drawings and my final samples. I have decided to contextualise these specific samples to cushion designs, Because of this I have made a cushion from a sample using my punch-card design (images to follow). I feel that although some of these have not turned out great I have managed to get a good amount of development in the time I had left after changing my idea.

Development

After being advised to stay away from acrylic yarns and told not to take such a literal approach to my samples and there detail, I decided to move out of my sketchbook and onto A2 worksheets so I could analyse the stronger aspects of my drawings so they are reflected in my samples.

samples...

The images shown on this post show a selection of my initial samples relating to my short story, some are actual ideas for the letters of the alphabet and some show ideas for techniques aimed to show various ways of creating interesting textures and dimensions.

Educational object

I have come to the decision that I want to look at the alphabet as a teaching opportunity, I feel that by looking at alphabet charts and various other things that teach children letters it will give me an insight of the market of my target audience. 

I started by making a list of words for each letter of the alphabet that are memorable for children of a young age and decided to put them together to create a short story, I did this because I believe that by telling a story to child, it is more likely to stay in their memory instead of just giving them a list of words.

Here is my short story...

Once upon a time there was an ANGEL carrying a BALLOON, she visited a CASTLE where there was a DRAGON holding an ENVELOPE.

She climbed a FENCE, went through the GRASS and over the HILL where she found an INSECT that she caught in a JAR and gave to the King.

He gave the angel a KEY for box with a LOCK that had in it, a MIRROR and a NECKLACE that was shaped like an OVAL and belonged to the princess.

It was kept in her POCKET until she found the QUEEN who gave her a ROCKET for her to reach the STARS.

The angel then stood under a TREE with an UMBRELLA while she listened to a VIOLIN and with a wave of her magic WAND the sound of a XYLOPHONE was heard.

Finally she played with her YO-YO as she ZIG-ZAGED home.


I think that by using each highlighted word as a representation of the letters of the alphabet, I could knit a piece for each letter so it could be used as individual pieces, displayed on a classroom wall, or pieced together to create a learning mat or blanket.

After looking at all of my research so far I have decided to think about possible outcomes, I would like to create samples with the intention of making an educational object. This could be in the form of a toy, a piece of furniture such as an interactive foot stool, a wall piece/decoration.

Various images of educational toys/objects.

Donna Wilson research, I find her work intriguing but as her target audience is more for adults I'm not sure if this is relevant.

After looking at the Neon Blitz prints I felt inspired to look at the work of Jackson Pollock and Wassily Kandinsky, 
I looked at Pollock because ever since I have known about his work people often say his work is child like, some even say that children could do better. I don't agree with this as although it just be 'paint splatted on a page' to some people to him they all meant something depending on how he felt whilst doing each one. Out of curiosity I asked two family members (aged 5 and 8) to look at his work and then paint something themselves, the results are shown under the Pollock painting below.

(^Jackson Pollock^)

(^Leo aged 5^)

(^Dominic aged 8^)

I feel that these paintings are very interesting as they were both given the same images to look at (a variation of Pollocks work) yet the outcomes are so different, I noticed that the younger child got bored quite quickly and did not want to finish the whole page.

http://www.layers-of-learning.com/jackson-pollock-drip-paintingfor-kids/



I looked at Kandinsky as I love the shaped and colours used in these pieces, the have not had a direct influence of my work as of yet but further on in the project they might.

Neon Blitz, inspiration

This image shows a print from the 1980's fashion print, Neon Blitz collection, I love the colours used throughout the images (all shown in sketchbook) as they are beautifully bold. I love how simple shapes and lines are used to create such interesting outcomes.

The top image is from the 1980's fashion print book (Marnie Fogg)

The bottom image shows a photocopy of a drawing I did using water colours and acrylic paint.

Looking at the collection of children's drawings I have I used some of the shapes and lines and interpreted them as an imitation of another image from the Neon Blitz collection.

This again is an image inspired by a Neon Blitz print, I find this particular drawing very eye catching and inspiring.

Playground Markings....

As well as child like drawings I decided that it would be interesting to look at the markings on playgrounds and I found it interesting that they were pretty much all intended to educate children in some way with letter numbers and shapes.

The images above show various ideas that came from looking at playground markings, I played around with numbers, letters and the primary and secondary colours.

Example of an unsuccessful punch card sample (try different yarns/change tension)

Mood board and drawings from sketchbook are shown below.